Hi

I am in the process of shopping around for visitor's health insurance for my parents.
The best quote that I have received so far is $1420 for 2, duration 5-1/2 months, age between 70-75 yrs, with no ailments, and no previous serious medical conditions.
The coverage is for $50,000 CAD each. This is from GMS - Group Medical Services, http://www.gms.ca" rel="nofollow">LINK

Is this a resonable quote considering their age factor, or should I shop around for more options?

Thanks

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sumjo

You have got the reasonable quote but make sure that how many visits(Walk in or family physician) are allowed during 6 months because some companies don't allowed a single visit for physicians visits.
IMO, it is cheaper to buy the health insurance policy from India (your parents in India can do it) with the companies like ICICI, Oriental Life Insurance, HSBC, Citibank etc. It would be 60% less than what you pay here. For my parents we got it through some Oriental Insurance in India. The insurance policyfrom India does not include physicians visit free. However, they are good for emmergency visit to hospitals.

There aren't too many comparative quote travel insurance websites to look at for visitors coming to Canada - and not many that include GMS. The newest website to compare wording and prices is http://www.bestquotetravelinsurance.ca" rel="nofollow">LINK which helps look at 6 companies.

Looking around is important because prices can vary dramatically from one company to the next depending on small changes in age, medications, etc.

http://www.bestquotetravelinsurance.ca" rel="nofollow">LINK provides free instant quotes that allow you to compare prices amongst Manulife, GMS, TIC, TravelGuard, Travel Underwriters, and ETFS the top travel insurance companies in Canada. You'll find ton's of information about any of your travel insurance questions. But since this is a question about parents coming to Canada:

Q: Why should I buy insurance from a Canadian insurance company instead of from a company in my home country?
A: Canadian medical providers (hospital, dentists, medical clinics, etc.) prefer to work with Canadian insurance companies. There is direct billing between hospitals and the Canadian insurance companies. In the event that you have to pay for expenses and then file a claim, Canadian insurance companies will have a faster claim procedure as they can verify Canadian medical expenses faster than providers in foriegn countries (so you get reimbursed faster).

Also, Canadian insurance companies are regulated by Canadian regulators, at some of the very highest standards around the world. In fact, they are also re-insured by Assuris - a Canadian government agency that will cover up to $60,000 of medical expenses in case a Canadian insurance company becomes insolvent. Not that that is likely, but it's nicer to know that you are insured no matter what happens. And, of course, if you are already in Canada companies in your country may not insure you because you have already left your home (province).

Q: What amount of Visitors travel medical insurance should I purchase?
A: Hospital costs for visitors to Canada can amount to over $3,000 per day, and air ambulance charges to return you home could very easily be in the ten's of thousands of dollars. We recommend at least $100,000 of medical insurance coverage if peace of mind is what you are after, and a higher amount if you are visiting from farther away.

Q: Do I purchase Visitors to Canada insurance before I leave, or once I arrive in Canada?
A: We recommend that you purchase your Visitors to Canada travel medical insurance prior to your arrival in Canada. If you purchase after you arrive in Canada, most insurance companies will have a waiting period of anywhere between 1 to 8 days after you purchase, during which time there will be no coverage for sickness, only for injury. Why take the chance that nothing happens before your sickness coverage is valid?

Q: Can I purchase a policy for my family members who are planning to come for a visit?
A: Yes. Anyone can purchase a policy on behalf of someone coming to Canada. In fact, you should know that if a person is coming to Canada and you have sponsored their stay, you will be responsible for their medical bills if they cannot pay for them. So even if they don't want the coverage, you might want to buy it for them.

Q: Are there any discounts for two or more travelers buying at the same time?
A: Some company's do offer discounts for largers groups. For two travelers, each traveler pays the rate that applies to their age, based on how long their trip is. It actually makes sense to buy two separate policies, because the price will be the same but if one traveler has a claim and both travelers return home the policy holder that did not claim can apply for a refund. If both travellers are covered under the same policy, no refunds are possible after a significant claim has been made, no matter how many days are left on the policy.

Q: If I have a pre-existing condition, can I get coverage for that with a Visitors to Canada insurance policy?
A: Maybe. It depends on the pre-existing condition, and the terms and conditions of the policy. Some insurance companies offer plans that cover pre-existing conditions as long as they have been stable for a certain period of time (3 to 6 months) before departure from your home country. More often, pre-existing conditions will not be covered. It is important to read your entire policy to make sure you are aware of the definitions affecting coverage, as well as the possible exclusions that may apply. If you have any questions about your pre-existing conditions and obtaining coverage, please contact us.

Q: Do I have to take a medical test before I can buy Visitors to Canada insurance?
A: No. There is no medical exam required prior to purchase. There may be some medical questions that are asked as a part of your online application. You must answer all questions truthfully, as not doing so may void (cancel) your coverage. If you have to submit a claim, the insurance company will investigate to determine if your condition was a pre-existing one, and/or whether you were truthful on your application.

Q: Can my Visitors to Canada medical insurance be extended if I want to stay longer?
A: Most policies can be extended up to one year of time in Canada, provided you are still in goodhealth and do not have any prior or pending claims on the policy. You just need to call your insurance company before your policy ends (please look up exact extension details in your policy wording, and they can extend the coverage for you.

Q: Who can purchase Visitors to Canada travel insurance?
A: As long as they meet the eligibility requirements stated in the policy:

•Visitors to Canada here on business or vacation;
•Immigrants to Canada waiting for government health coverage approval.
•Canadians who have returned to Canada and are not yet covered under a provincial health plan.
Q: Do you offer discounts for group travel medical insurance?
A: Yes, some insurance companies offer group discounts. Call us toll-free at 1-855-237-8808 for more information.

Q: Am I covered for trips outside Canada?
A: Your medical emergency coverage begins after your arrival in Canada. After that time, as long as the majority of your period of coverage is spent in Canada, you will be covered for during travel outside Canada. However, expenses incurred in your own country will usually not be covered. Please read your policy for details.

Q: If Visitors to Canada insurance won't cover my pre-existing condition, why should I buy it?
A: Even though the emergency medical coverage might not apply to an existing condition, your travel insurance will cover any new illnesses or accidental injuries. There are also Visitors to Canada plans that include trip interruption coverage, which can protect you from financial losses from having to cancel your trip after you come to Canada (ie. for a family emergency back home), or for delays and other surprises that occur while travelling.

Q: What do I do in the case of an emergency and/or hospitalization?
A: You must call your insurance company and notify them of any emergency medical treatment or hospitalizationas soon as possible, , and/or to obtain their approval of expenses that can be covered (ie. flying home to obtain medical attention). Failure to notify your insurance company can result in decreased coverage.

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Amongst the travel insurance companies in Canada, GMS will be the lowest priced for visitors to Canada in the age range you've asked about. But that also includes a $1000 deductible.

http://www.bestquotetravelinsurance.ca/visitors-to-canada-insurance" rel="nofollow">LINK will let you compare deductible levels, and differences in coverage just by changing the drop down menus in your quote. It's faster than any other on-line service. And of course, you can buy coverage on the site too.

GMS will be lower than RBC travel insurance, BCAA, Bluecross, and the other comapnies hosted on the site. Not in all situations, as prices vary depending on age range, medications, whether you want coverage for pre-existing conditions, etc. You always need to shop around, and read differecnes in wording. For that, you need an online tool, and that's why we built http://www.bestquotetravelinsurance.ca" rel="nofollow">LINK for our customers. Now anyone can use it too.

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The topic is not the same but related so thought will post under this thread.

Can we approach any walk in clinics or family clinic to have medical checkup (in particular blood test because the visitor need a report sent back home ) done for visitors holding travel medical insurance from India.

Has anyone's parents / relatives visiting here used medical services .

Thanks
UK

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Please let your smart brain analyse first. Mine is taking rest.

If the policy was issued in India, you'll have to read the actual policy document to see if expenses related to a regular check up are covered. Most likely, they are not. Travel insurance is usually sold for accident and/or illness from unusual and unforeseen emergency circumstances. So just going in for a checkup probably isn't covered. An expat policy - a more expensive version of travel medical insurance - sometimes referred to as travel health insurance would cover a regular check up, so you really do have to read the fine print in the policy to see what coverage they have.

I saw a comment on this thread about buying the coverage in one's home country (like India) because the coverage would be 60% less than buying a visitors to canada policy from a Canadian travel insurance company. While the premium would perhaps be lower - often the coverage is too, and certain items like a return flight home immediately upon diagnosis of an emergency illness is provided by Canadian companies, whereas it often is not in a less expensive policy. You do get what you pay for - including unwanted exclusions.

To weigh the differences between buying at home and buying from a Canadian provider, you need to find the cheapest policy that's appropriate fro the Canadian companies http://www.bestquotetravelinsurance.ca" rel="nofollow">LINK read through the policy wording to see what is covered, and then compare to the policy choices in one's home country. Any 'tie' should go to the Canadian company because for the Canadian hospital, it's easier to deal with the Canadian company, and the process will be hassle free - and that would defineately be worth a few extra premium dollars.

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Thanks, but none of these companies insure people who are above 70, so that's not going to work. For coverage in Canada, GMS would be my best option, in terms of cost & features.

I understand that walk-in's & basic consultations are free even for visitors (without insurance) at the Community Health Centers.

Quote:

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Originally posted by chekram_04

You have got the reasonable quote but make sure that how many visits(Walk in or family physician) are allowed during 6 months because some companies don't allowed a single visit for physicians visits.
IMO, it is cheaper to buy the health insurance policy from India (your parents in India can do it) with the companies like ICICI, Oriental Life Insurance, HSBC, Citibank etc. It would be 60% less than what you pay here. For my parents we got it through some Oriental Insurance in India. The insurance policyfrom India does not include physicians visit free. However, they are good for emmergency visit to hospitals.

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sumjo